The politician's pledge: A better kind of politics
As originally conceived, the practice of politics is intended to be a noble calling – the arena within which a citizen might contribute to the establishment and maintenance of a good society.
Yet, without voluntary, ethical restraint, the pursuit and exercise of power risks becoming personal, brutal and self-serving; coarsening the polity, bringing public institutions into disrepute and damaging the common good.
So, consistent with the highest ideals of our profession, I promise that:
In the pursuit of power, I will:
- Act in good conscience,
- Enable informed decision making by my fellow citizens,
- Respect the intrinsic dignity of all,
- Refrain from exploiting my rivals’ private failings for political gain, and
- Act so as to merit the trust and respect of the community.
In the exercise of power, I will:
- Give effect to the ideals of democratic government and represent the interests of my electorate as a whole,
- Abide by the letter and spirit of the Constitution and uphold the rule of law,
- Advance the public interest before any personal, sectional or partisan interest,
- Hold myself accountable for conduct for which I am responsible, and
- Exercise the privileges and discharge the duties of Public Office with dignity, care and honour.